Fumigating cover for a contaminated mattress



Jan. 26, 1937. w. HOWARD, JR 2,069,036

FUMIGATING COVER FOR A CONTAMINATED MATTRESS Filed April 11, 1934 Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES FUMIGATING COVER FOR A CONTAMI- NATED MATTRESS William Howard, Jr., Santiago, Chile Application April 11, 1934, Serial No. 719,999

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a sanitary pillow and. mattress cover and to a method for disinfecting pillows and mattresses, and has for an object to provide an improved cover of rubber or other waterproof and airproof material adapted to containa pillow or mattress and to a method for disinfecting the contained pillow or mattress by inserting a disinfecting gas or powder into the container with the pillow or mattress.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of disinfecting a pillow or mattress, hereinafter referred to herein as a mattress, by hermetically sealing the mattress within a rubber or other airproof container and then inserting disinfecting gas or powder into the container through a suitable valve.

A further object ofthis invention is to provide a sanitary cover for a mattress, which cover is itself capable of being easily cleaned or disinfected by means of suitable germicides and which sealing container may be used as a permanent cover for the mattress.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a combination mattress and cover consist- 25 ing of an airproof container for the mattress wherein the airproof container may have suitably warm air pumped therein through a suitable valve, thereby making the mattress more comfortable for use, especially for the use of a per- 30 son of low vitality.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hermetically sealed cover for a mattress, which cover may be made or decorated with any suitable color scheme or decorative scheme, as

5 may be desired to improve its attractiveness to the eye.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafter become apparent, this invention comprises the constructions, combinations 40 and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cover in operative position.

45 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover, one

side being open showing the mattress therein.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

There is shown at ID a mattress which may 50 be of any suitable standard size and construction. As is well known, conventional mattresses are convenient breeding places for bedbugs, moths, insects, and other objectionable vermin and it is very difficult to eradicate this vermin 55 once it has gotten a foothold into the mattress.

In addition, mattresses and pillows serve as breeding places for germs, especially after they have been used by diseased persons and many people have become sick a second time by being reinfested by germs breeding in the mattress or 5 pillow as a result of the mattress or pillow being used during an earlier sickness. As a result of these facts, many states and municipalities have made it illegal to offer a mattress for resale after the same has been used. 10

With this invention, however, it is possible to completely eliminate all vermin as well as all disease germs from any mattress, making it safe for re-use, either by the same person or by any other person. In carrying out this invention, the 15 mattress I0 is placed within a container, as shown at l2, this container l2 being made in a size convenient to the size of the mattress I0 and is made of rubber or any other suitable air and waterproof material or fabric.

Any suitable decorative efiect, such as cretonne or a bed ticking effect, may be printed on the fabric of the container l2 in a well-known manner. One side M of the container I2 is left open until the mattress H] can be placed therein, as shown in Figure 2. Thereafter, this side I4 is sealed along its edges l6, l8 and 20, either by vulcanizing the same or securing it with a suitable cement, thereby hermetically sealing the mattress ID within the container or cover I2.

One or more ends 22 of the cover or container I2 has an air valve 24 hermetically sealed thereto as at 26, the valve 24 being of any suitable type, such as is used with inner tubes of automobile tires.

When the mattress I0 is thus protected with the sanitary cover, as shown in Figure 1, it may be made safe for continued use after it has been used by persons known to have had infectious diseases by washing the cover on the outside with any one of the disinfectant materials found on the market that are provided in powdered or liquid form, the outside of the cover being thoroughly disinfected as by washing with the mattress already in place, the mattress being protected both against moisture from the washing as well as against access of any vermin or germs thereto by being hermetically sealed within the cover l2.

If the mattress ill was already infested with vermin or germs before being sealed within the cover l2, then a disinfectant or insecticide, in either vapor, gas, or powdered form, may be inserted through one of the valves l2 and allowed to remain therein a sufiicient time to thoroughly eliminate all possible vermin or germs. Thus both the outside of the cover I 2 as well as the inside of the cover I2 and the contained mattress l may be all thoroughly disinfected, thereby eliminating the necessity for burning or destroying the mattress just because it has been exposed to use by persons having contagious diseases. Furthermore, by varying the pressure within the container H, the softness or hardness of the mattress may be controlled to any desired degree.

With the mattress thus contained within the cover l2, this invention can be used not only to eliminate the spreading of infection as with the present conventional mattress, but also can be used to assist in breaking up a heavy cold by pumping the same with hot air, thereby assisting the sick person in producing a heavy or profuse perspiration. It can be also used as a miniature heating plant, especially in homes where'there are no central heating systems, by pumping warm air through the valve 24 just before retiring, thus conserving the vitality of babies, invalids, or aged persons using the same, this being a far superior method of heating the bed over the present conventional method of hot jugs, hot

water bottles or hot water bags under the bed covers.

The novel features and the operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this is not to be considered limited to the exact form disclosed and that any changes may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A fumigating cover for a contaminated mattress comprising an envelope of impervious material, proof to liquids and gases, said envelope providing a mouth open only at one side to permit the mattress to be placed therein, an envelope flap extending along one edge of the mouth, said flap being hermetically sealable over the remaining edges of the mouth to thereby seal the mattress therein prior to the introducing of disinfecting means, and a Valve means extending thru said envelopewhereby the disinfecting means may be introduced therein.

WILLIAM HOWARD, JR. j 

